Population dynamics of a high-latitude coral Alveopora japonica Eguchi from Jeju Island, off the southern coast of Korea
Christophe Vieira A E , Shashank Keshavmurthy A B , Se-Jong Ju C F , Kiseong Hyeong C , Inah Seo C G , Chang-Keun Kang D , Hyun-Ki Hong A , Chaolun Allen Chen B and Kwang-Sik Choi A H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Marine Biomedical Science (BK21 PLUS), Jeju National University, 102 jejudaehakno, Jeju 690-756, South Korea.
B Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica (BRCAS), 128 Academia Road Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
C Deep-Sea and Seabed Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST), Ansan 425-744, South Korea.
D School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
E Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 6, IFD, 4 Place Jussieu, F-75252 PARIS Cedex 05, France.
F Marine Biology Department, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 305-350, South Korea.
G School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, South Korea.
H Corresponding author. Email: skchoi@jejunu.ac.kr
Marine and Freshwater Research 67(5) 594-604 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14330
Submitted: 18 October 2014 Accepted: 17 March 2015 Published: 6 August 2015
Abstract
Although coral reefs are facing severe challenges from a variety of natural and anthropogenic stresses, there is anecdotal evidence that the high-latitude coral species Alveopora japonica Eguchi, 1968, has increased its population over the past two decades around Jeju Island, off the southern coast of Korea. The present study provides the first ecological data on this species. Alveopora japonica is opportunistically occupying the empty space left vacant following the recent kelp-forest decline. Colony abundance, age- and size-frequency distributions, lifespan, growth rates and biological characteristics such as surface area, weight and volume of two A. japonica populations in Jeju Island were investigated. Alveopora japonica around Jeju Island is characterised by a mean colony size of 30 cm2, a slow growth rate (4.8 mm year–1), and a short lifespan of 12–13 years, as determined by X-radiographic measurements. Alveopora japonica presented a dense population of 120 colonies m–2 on average. Population-age and -size structures at both sites reflected a healthy status and indicated a local stability, with a stationary size structure allowing population maintenance over time. The present study provided data to develop population-dynamics models to predict the potential outcomes of A. japonica populations to alternative management scenarios in Jeju Island.
Additional keywords: age- and size-frequency distribution, Alveopora japonica, growth rate, life-history strategies, lifespan.
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